PhD Position on All-Solid-State Batteries

Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.

Empa’s Laboratory Materials for Energy Conversion focuses on materials and device innovation for sustainable energy technologies.

PhD Position on All-Solid-State Batteries

Your tasks

The aim of this PhD project is to investigate lithium- and sodium-based solid-state batteries using muon-based bulk and interface characterization techniques. The main objective is to gain a mechanistic understanding of electrochemical performance, with a focus on ion distribution, transport, and degradation processes during battery operation. The project addresses key questions such as the formation of Li/Na concentration gradients during charge and discharge, the evolution of interphases, and degradation mechanisms including ageing, material dissolution (leaching), and transition-metal migration. Muon-based methods will be used to probe depth-resolved properties that are difficult to access with conventional techniques, enabling new insights into buried interfaces and bulk transport phenomena.
Your work will focus on electrochemical and structural characterization of battery materials and cells, combined with muon-based experiments. You will design and carry out experiments to identify reaction pathways and degradation mechanisms, and analyze complex datasets to connect microscopic processes with macroscopic performance. Close collaboration with project partners will support the development and testing of materials and cell concepts.

Your profile
You hold a Master’s degree in chemistry, materials science, or a related field, experience in electrochemistry or batteries is an advantage. Excellent English skills are required.

Our offer

You will conduct your research in Empa’s laboratories in Dübendorf and will be enrolled in the doctoral program in Electrical Engineering at ETH Zurich. The project is part of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Muoniverse and is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.Muoniverse connects over 30 research groups and offers a structured research school with training, exchange opportunities, and career development. We are looking for candidates who enjoy collaborative, interdisciplinary research and value openness and shared progress. Muoniverse is committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and an inclusive research culture.
You will independently conduct experiments, including muon beamline studies, collaborate with academic and industrial partners, and disseminate your results through publications and presentations. Our laboratories provide access to a broad range of battery research infrastructure, including gloveboxes, furnaces, spectroscopy, microscopy, and extensive electrochemical testing facilities.
Start date is October 1st, 2026 or upon agreement.

Empa is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from female researchers and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. We believe diversity drives innovation and scientific excellence. Join us in contributing to groundbreaking research in sustainable energy technologies!

We look forward to receiving your online application including a two-page motivation letter, CV, scholarly records, diplomas with transcripts, and at least two reference letters. Only complete applications will be considered. Please upload all documents through our webpage, applications via E-mail cannot be accepted.